The Lord your God is with you...

Today I found some thoughts that I had recorded after studying the life of Joshua. 

In Joshua 1 God told Joshua to get up and go 'to the land which I am giving to them - the children of Israel.  Every place on which the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you.' 'No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life'  ...  'I  will not leave you nor forsake you.  Be strong and of good courage'  .... 'Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.'... you will  'possess the land which the Lord your God is giving you to possess.'

The teaching must have hit home and I found myself missing the mark. At which point I had written the following poem and it has been good to remind myself of that moment.

I have run and run from many a fight

not seeing the Lord by my side

I have wrung my hands with a sense of loss

and tears of wretchedness cried.

I have hidden myself in the darkest cave

with the sound of the hunter so near

my breath in a ball, my heart in a knot

its beat ringing loud in my ear.

With tarnished words of hate in my mind

like flint slashing through my core

rejection arising, brick upon  brick

my life ebbing out on the shore.

I lie at Your feet at the end of myself

my strength and my might flickering low

Your Word coming through like a kiss on the breeze

the comfort, the grace that 'You know'

I rise with the strength of Your mighty arm

the weight of Your Word is my stay

the Truth of Your Precepts written - for me

in power rolled the stone away.

For forty long years I wandered in fear

the clock ticking by, to my shame.

Shuffling past the memorials built high in stone

Your Presence, Your promise, Your name.

I could have stepped out in the strength of Your might

I could have gone forth in Your Word

I could have seen victory and not been afraid

if only I'd lifted Your Sword.

Now not looking back but pressing ahead

I rise and go forth from this place

I know He'll walk with me, wherever He sends

and one day I'll look at His face.

His Promise is sure, He is faithful and true

so don't waver or fall by the way

The battle is His, the victory assured

make the most of your time, while its day.

Rosie (http://crumbsonmykeyboard.blogspot.co.uk)